Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Dural Sinus Malformation in a Fetus: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dural sinus malformation (DSM) is a rather rare congenital condition that can be encountered in the fetus and infants. The cause and etiology of DSM remain unclear. Obstetric ultrasound plays a key role in screening fetal brain malformations, and MRI is frequently used as a complementary method to confirm the diagnosis and provide more details. OBJECTIVE: Here, we present a fetus with DSM by multiple imaging methods to help better understand the imaging characteristics of this malformation. CASE PRESENTATION A 22-year-old primipara was referred to our hospital at 25 weeks of gestation following the detection of a fetal intracranial mass without any symptoms. A prenatal ultrasound performed in our hospital at 25 + 2 gestational weeks showed a large anechoic mass with liquid dark space, while no blood flow was detected. After the initial evaluation, this primipara received a prenatal MRI in our hospital. This examination at 25 + 5 gestational weeks delineated a fan-shaped mass in the torcular herophili, which was iso-to hyperintense on T1WI and hypointense on T2WI. At the lower part of this lesion, a quasi-circular hyperintense on T1WI and a signal slightly hyperintense on T2WI could be seen. Meanwhile, the adjacent brain parenchyma was compressed by the mass. CONCLUSION: We reviewed the current literature to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms, imaging characteristics, and survival status of DSM. Although the primipara of the present study regretfully opted for elective termination of pregnancy, the reevaluation of DSM survival deserves more attention because of the better survival data from recent studies.